#myriopteris rufa

[cedar-glade]

There are now many xeric ferns that inhabit the Wichita Mountains. Since Cheilanthes was divided and renamed, many species now need re-evaluation for a legitimate species index for the area.

Many are true chasmophytes(crack dwellers and some do well in pot hole basins where pockets in the granite form pools that eventually fill with mineral sand, these usually have much more vegetation and competition than just bare cracks and crevices. Very few are lithophytic(growing directly on rock). 

Top: habitat

Next set is that of one of two of the wholly Myriopteris spp. in the area. 

That of the grey wholly lip fern, Myriopteris rufa, formerly part of the Cheilanthes eatonii group. The bicolor nature(blue gray adaxail vs rusty hairy bottom) of this makes it easily distinguished. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=1851&clid=3121

The next species in this set is a classic common fern, with rachis/ stems slightly pubescent and red, Myriopteris lanosa, hairy lip fern. Notice the sparcely pubescent adaxial surface. it looks almost glabrous in the light.

Original list for Cheilanthes spp.

Cheilanthes vestita 

 Cheilanthes eatoni 

 Cheilanthes fendleri

 Cheilanthes lanosa

 Cheilanthes lindheimeri 

 Cheilanthes wootoni

again, it’s not clear how many more there are now since the division.